We have a trip planned at the end of September to Greece. We have the reservations but would love some opinions since this is our first trip to Greece. We have about 2 weeks to make changes to our itinerary so I welcome the feedback:

Athens - 2 nights - Hotel: Divan Palace Acropolis

Crete - 2 nights - Hotel: Candia Maris

Santorini - 3 nights - Hotel: Volcano Views

Paros - 2 nights - Hotel: Kanales Studios Seaview

Mykonos - 3 nights - Hotel: Royal Myconian Thalasso

Thanks very much!!!

Been to Athens, Paros and Santorini.
I would love to go to Crete and having read about it I wonder if 2 days there would be enough for you.

Paros was ok but nothing special -wished we had spent extra time on the mainland instead.

Santorini was nice -2 days would allow you to see what you want there- unless youre going for relaxation.
I would be all" Islanded out" with your itinery, but everyone is different.
Dont you want to see Meteora and other places on the mainland.
For me, Meteora was one of the best journeys ever!
I am sure you will get lots of other advice here!
Good luck.

Five destinations in 12 days seems a lot to me. The better part of four of those days will be spent on ferry rides and checking in and out of hotels, so you aren't allowing yourself much time for sightseeing and relaxation. Better to save Athens for the end of the trip and limit yourself to two or (and that's stretching it) three islands.

If your trip runs into October, check the ferry schedules carefully. Some of the links you are counting on end on 1 Oct. Example: http://www.ferries.gr/hfd/.

I also feel that that's a ton of hopping around. I'd want to cut out Crete if I was going to cut out an island. Mainly because it's such a large island I don't think you'd feel like you saw much. I've been to all the islands you list and Paros is probably my least favorite of them all. That's not to say I didn't like Paros, I just prefer Naxos to Paros.

I also agree Meteora is wonderful. As is much of the Peloponesse. However, depends on if you're looking for an island trip in particular. We just got back a few weeks ago and we didn't do the mainland at all this trip.

Everyone has a different idea of the perfect vacation. I just prefer to not do so many two night stops.

Take a day away from Sanrtorini,and give it to Crete-stay in Chania. Loved Paros and stayed at Kanales but wouldn't stay there again- Great location,could walk into town, nice people,terrific breakfast but the most uncomfortable beds we've ever tried to sleep on- painful.Road noise also a problem if in a sea view room. Would choose another hotel near Kanales or ask them if they have upgraded their mattresses since 2005.

Ditto what others have said about too many places. I would like to emphasize that if you truly had two full days it might be passable, but with travel time, you'll wind up with maybe half of one day and half of another. You don't say what is most important to you--history, scenery, beaches?

Much as I love Crete, I would skip it because you'll see next to nothing with only two nights.

Vera

Thanks for all the feedback. I am definitely going to pare the number of stops. We have to keep Athens as the first stop since we already have our airfare but will take your advice and add Meteora and cut out another location.

If you intend to stay at Meteora then let me recommend a wonderful guest house. Its called Duplani and it has the best view. We had drinks out on the terrace as we watched the sun go down,walked down the road and had dinner in this taverna with no other tourists around(it was September)
We awoke the next morning and looked out onto the grand Meteora.
This place is all the way through the town - the address is actually Kastraki, Meteora and its on the road to the monasteries. Give yourself a good part of the day to walk around some of them. Take a picnic (as there are no tavernas nearby)and enjoy the spectacular views.
I have the card from Duplani house and its just an email address -no website.
[email protected]
Before we found this place,we had looked at 2 other hotels in Meteora which we rejected as they were expensive and dirty!
This place is nice and clean, its a friendly couple who run it and it has the best views.

Hello kb1962,

I agree with the above posters - too many stops create too many travel days. I would definately trim Crete as that could be 2 weeks in and of itself. I would drop another island as well. I would not drop an island only to put Meteora in. Meteora is stunning and wonderful, but it is also about 6hours from Athens (with no traffic problems). If you want to go to that region I would stay more than one night and flesh it out to include Delphi and maybe Metsovo - just to make the journey worth it. If you do this I would cut another island to accomodate. For example:

Santorini - 3 nights
Paros - 3 nights (I would fly back to Athens on earliest flight, catch airport bus to Terminal B and head to Delphi on the next bus out)
Delphi - 1 night
Kalambaka - 2 nights
Metsovo - 1 night
Athens - 2 nights

or

3 nights Santorini
4 nights Paros
1 night Delphi
2 nights Kalambaka
2 nights Athens.

If you want to stick to islands I would not plan more than 3 (2 would likely be more enjoyable). For example:

4 nights Santorini
3 nights Paros
3 nights Mykonos
2 nights Athens (I would do Athens last) - or something along these lines.

Just some suggestions. You don't want to feel too rushed and islands are more than just their main port.

If on Mykonos don't miss out on a day trip to ancient Delos!

Have a great trip - let us know what you decide.

Good Travels,

Murphy

Also,

I would try to do Athens last - I know you have your flight...is there a way you could do a connection/an evening flight to your first island? Santorini and Mykonos especially have lots of flights/day - popular islands. Just a thought.

Cheers,

Murphy

I am glad we stayed in Athens first - it got us into the whole Greek culture understanding thing before setting off to other places.

kb1962,

"We have to keep Athens as the first stop since we already have our airfare..."

Most people do fly in and out of Athens, but that doesn't mean you have to stop there first. You can book a connecting flight to the islands, or head straight to Piraeus or Rafina from the airport to catch a ferry. In fact, many experienced travellers recommend you return to Athens a couple of days before your flight home just in case of ferry cancellations due to weather or industrial action. Ferry cancellations are rare, but when they do happen you are stuck on the island.

When I go to the islands next month I won't even leave Athens Airport. I will arrive at 3:35AM, catch a flight to Paros at 7:10AM, and will be sitting at my favourite cafe on Antiparos having breakfast by 8:30AM. You could do the same with a connecting flight to Santorini.

Excellent!! I so appreciate all the great suggestions. I think we will stick with the islands for this trip and take murphy89's suggestion and do:

4 nights Santorini
3 nights Paros
3 nights Mykonos
2 nights Athens

Although, I'm not sure if we will make Athens the first or last stop.

Thanks to all for all your help!! Any suggestions on side trips would be greatly appreciated too. I promise an extensive trip report in October!!

i would most definitely take out CRETE as part of the itinerary. It takes a while to get there first of all and it is a big island. You almost could spend your whole time there.

go w/ everything else except CRETE and lengthen your stays. I agree you don't want to overdo it, and traveling so much you don't get to relax at all.

My Itinerary : 3 weeks

Athens for 4 days- Acropolis, plaka, etc.
Santorini for 4 Days
and then 2 weeks in Elafonisos Island , on the BEACH!!